Question

Which of the following test is used for diagnosis of enteric fever?

• A. Widal test
• B. Southern blot
• C. Western blot
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is A Widal test

• Widal test is an antigen agglutination test which is used to diagnose if the patient is infected with typhoid or paratyphoid.
• The widal test slid consist of typhoid and paratyphoid antigen in there specific section divided on the slide.
• The blood from the patient taken if he is suffering from typhoid his blood will have antibody to fight of the bacterial antigen and if he is not suffering from typhoid then his blood won't have antibody for the typhoid antigen.
• The blood with the same antibody and antigen on the slide will react to each other and agglutinate which will form clumps. This clumping will specify that the patient is suffering from typhoid fever.
• If the clumping does not takes place then the patient is not infected by either typhoid or paratyphoid.
• Southern blot and western blot both are the methods which are used in genetic analysis and not for diagnosing pathogenic disease.
• So, the correct answer is 'Widal test'